The Fifth Annual Athena Film Festival: A Celebration of Women and Leadership will be in full swing from February 5 to February 8, 2015 at Barnard College.
Hosted at Barnard College’s Athena Center for Leadership Studies, and in association with Women and Hollywood, The Fifth Annual Athena Film Festival: A Celebration of Women and Leadership will be returning to Barnard’s campus next february. This festival celebrates and honors the achievements of women in the film industry, in both their field as well as their daily lives. The goal of the festival is to encourage and inspire and acknowledge industry leaders.
Events of the festival include screenings, Q&A panels with directors and actors and master classes. Festival founders Regina K. Scully, the Phoebe Snow Foundation and Artemis Rising Foundation and Festival co-chairs Amma Asante; Julie Parker Benello; Debra Martin Chase; Dan Cogan; Diane Levin; Jon Levin; Regina K. Scully and Rachel Weisz are pleased to present the Athena Film Festival Awards to Sheila Nevins, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Cathy Schulman. Next year also marks the return of the Athena List, also known as the “gender conscious cousin” of The Black List. It essentially highlights 3 to 5 screenplays with outstanding first-time female leads.
This festival allows ticket holders to not only learn about what goes on in front of the camera, but behind the camera as well.Founding sponsor Regina K. Scully said “We could not be more proud to see the festival celebrate its fifth year shining a light on women as creative, inspirational and essential pillars of the entertainment industry,” and co-founder Kathryn Kolbert said, “This year’s awardees epitomize the leadership and ingenuity that women bring to the entertainment industry everyday.” Melissa Silverstein, co-founder and Artistic Director of the Athena Film Festival and founder of Women and Hollywood added “As a festival we continue raise the visibility of accomplished women in the industry and create a four day celebration of work that highlights women’s leadership in ways that are courageous and thought-provoking.” For regular updates about the festival and to purchase early bird passes head over to http://www.athenafilmfestival.com.
-Nishat Baig
